Structural solar energy collector

Abstract

The outer wall surfaces of a building are formed with spaced elongated recesses to receive radiant solar energy. Elongated fluid bearing lines are partially disposed within the recesses and incorporated into a continuous fluid circulating system. Solar energy is absorbed by the wall surfaces and also reflected by the sides of the recessed to heat the fluid bearing lines. The specific cross sectional shape of the recesses and the location of the fluid bearing lines is designed to provide the maximum efficiency of the collector at a given location.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A structural solar energy collector for a building comprising at least one outer surface a series of spaced elongated recesses in the outer wall, a first and a second elongated arcuate solar light reflecting member longitudinally disposed within the recesses, a fluid bearing line assembly including a plurality of elongated tubes supported upon the outer wall and disposed at least partially within the spaced elongated recesses to receive solar energy coming from the light reflecting surfaces, said tubes being disposed along the center of curvature of the arcuate solar reflecting surfaces, a solar energy transmitting cover member overlying the fluid bearing lines and means to interconnect the fluid bearing lines into a continuous circulating heat transfer system in which the said first arcuate reflecting member has a radius of curvature of:   R.sup.1 m=r(sin(i.sub.r +i.sub.s)-cos i.sub.r (sin i.sub.r -sin i.sub.s)/sin i.sub.r cos i.sub.r sin(i.sub.r +i.sub.s)     and the said second arcuate reflecting member has a radius of curvature of:     R.sup.2 m=r(sin(i.sub.r +i.sub.s)+cos i.sub.s (sin i.sub.r -sin i.sub.s)/sin i.sub.s cos i.sub.s sin(i.sub.r +i.sub.s)     where R 1  m is the radius of the reflecting member on the sun rise side of the arcuate reflector, R 2  m is the radius of the reflecting member on the sun set side of the arcuate reflector, r is the radius of the fluid bearing tubes, i r  is the angle of incidence of solar rays after sun rise, i s  is the angle of incidence of solar rays before sun set.   
     
     
       2. A collector according to claim 1 in which the distance D between the fluid bearing tubes is:   D=R.sup.1 m sin i.sub.r +R.sup.2 m sin i.sub.s     
     
     
       3. A collector according to claim 1 in which the recesses are symmetrical in cross sectional shape about the fluid bearing line. 
     
     
       4. A collector according to claim 1 in which the recesses comprising a first and a second solar reflecting member, are assymetrical in cross sectional shape and are spaced from the fluid bearing line. 
     
     
       5. A collector according to claim 1 in which the fluid bearing lines are non-circular in cross section.